We’re live in Brainerd, Minnesota for the first annual Yellow Ribbon Rendezvous at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake. Commissioner Larry Shellito joins us as co-host as we talk with Kathryn Stotka of Cragun’s Resort, Steve Campos of the Washington County Yellow Ribbon Network, Mike Farren of the Family Assistance Centers, Col. Scott St. Sauver of the Minnesota National Guard’s Camp Ripley and Rick Johnson of the Minnesota Patriot Guard.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Afghanistan!

Building the infrastructure needed to feed a nation may be one of the keys to stabilizing Afghanistan. This week we’ll catch up with Col. Eric Ahlness, the commander of the Minnesota National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team currently deployed in Zabul Province and see why the National Guard is so well suited for this critical mission.

Also, as our troops, like Marine Dick Theis, returned from Vietnam their welcome was not what they expected. We’ll explore that turbulent time in American history and how we’ve learned from our mistakes.

Nearly one-third of our deployed 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division Soldiers say that as they return home unemployment is a serious concern. This week we explore the solutions with MInnesota’s experts in the field. Guests include: Jim Finley of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Barb O’Reily of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Maj. Aaron Krenz and Command Sgt. Maj. Cindy Kallberg of the Minnesota National Guard. For more visit: PositivelyMinnesota.com/Veterans

Col. Young & Tom

This week, Minnesota’s last Tuskegee Airmen, Maj. Joe Gomer, tells us about his experiences in World War II, Korea and the Cold War and Col. Darrell Young of the Minneapolis based 934th Airlift Wing talks about his unit’s ongoing deployment to the Middle East.